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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Original poster

Breast or formula?

30 replies

Megs1993 · 02/06/2017 14:57

Hi guys,

I was just wondering at what point did you stop breastfeeding and go onto formula feeds?

At first I really just wanted to get to the three month mark and then switch to formula, however we are two weeks away from 3 months and I'm still ebf and it's going so well I don't want to stop and want to try and get to 6 months. Literally my only reasons for wanting to switch to formula is for easiness for me which just isn't a good enough reason at all!

OP posts:
DavidPuddy · 02/06/2017 15:01

As time went on and baby fed less frequently breastfeeding became very convenient. Food any place you were with no preparation.

LuchiMangsho · 02/06/2017 15:01

I first said 6 weeks, then 8, then 6 months. By then he was feeding for 10 mins max maybe 5-6 times a day. It was great because it was a nice rest for me. It was so easy that I decided to keep going for a bit longer. I did introduce one bottle a day as well. Eventually I fed for a year before it tailed off.
When we started I was desperate to stop but over time it became so much easier.
No 2 was very very premature- 26 weeks so now has 2 breastfeeds a day but the rest is bottle fed expressed milk. And bottles are a MUCH bigger faff.

DavidPuddy · 02/06/2017 15:02

I also took it one month at a time and am now at 17 months. I think that is a healthy approach.

PotteringAlong · 02/06/2017 15:03

I never did. Mine went straight from breastmilk to cows milk.

PotteringAlong · 02/06/2017 15:04

But yes. Like david I did it one week at a time! Stopped breastfeeding ds1 at about 16 months and DS2 at about 18 months. Ds3 is 4 months and EBF.

MrEBear · 02/06/2017 15:08

First baby I never switched, BF becomes the ultimate in fast food.

Second baby is 5 months still BFed. No plans to switch anytime soon.

You've done the hard bit getting it established, why give up when your getting to the easy bit? If it's sleep your thinking about there is no guarantee that FF or any amount of solid food will make a child sleep. My first was over 2 before he stopped waking in the early hours.

MelinaMercury · 02/06/2017 15:13

If you don't want to switch then keep it up :)

DD was EBF until she started eating solids at 5.5 months and switched from breast to cows milk at 16 months. It won't do any harm.

Original poster
Megs1993 · 02/06/2017 15:26

I have no intention of stopping really if it's all good for little one! She actually sleeps through the night so sleep is no issue at all, it's more the anxiety of leaving the house and worrying about needing to feed in public!

I've started expressing a bit but to be honest I felt like all I was doing with my day was pumping milk or feeding haha

OP posts:
Original poster
Megs1993 · 02/06/2017 15:31

Also first time mum here so apologies if this is a silly question but if I breast feed up until she's on solids can I just skip formula all together?

OP posts:
bigmamapeach · 02/06/2017 15:35

awesome! my 2 'self weaned' at around the same time, both when they were 16 months or so... weirdly. both just went straight onto cow's milk then (they already had had a bit alongside the BF as well from a year).
Yeah, if you BF when starting solids, just continue the BF and then as long as you don't stop BFing before a year, you don't need any formula at all. If they are doing well on solids when they are 1, the BM can be replaced by regular cow's milk as a drink. But you can also continue BF if you want to!
If you want to stop BF before they are 1, you do need to switch the BF for formula, cos regular cow's milk doesn't have the right balance of nutrients in it to suffice at that age.

ShoeJunkie · 02/06/2017 15:43

I never switched to formula either. I was still feeding after both DS were weaned (still feeding DS2 at 2 and a half) but as PP have said by then it's not the relentless feeding of a newborn but a few quick snacks here and there.

AssassinatedBeauty · 02/06/2017 15:44

Yep, beyond aged 1 you can just give whole cows milk when you want to stop breastfeeding, or if your baby decides to self wean. My first self weaned at about 16 months and I'm currently feeding DS2 who is 11 months and not showing any signs of stopping just yet.

ScarletSienna · 02/06/2017 15:47

Never went onto formula-still breastfeeding at 2. He also has calcium enriched coconut milk now. You've definitely done the hardest bit IMO and if you keep going until 1, no need for formula (win money wise!).

Original poster
Megs1993 · 02/06/2017 15:48

I think I'll just take it week by week, she's thriving so much of it and gaining weight really well so I'd hate to give it up for no reason at all!

OP posts:
RogerLimasOldestDreadlock · 02/06/2017 15:56

Both mine had formula from 6 months while I was at work, but I continued to breast feed evenings & weekends and all night.

DC1 fed morning & evening till 23 months, but DC2 started refusing the breast in favour of bottles at around 10 months, much to my disappointment. (I did try to persist, but you can't force a baby to breastfeed. Especially one with teeth).

Breastfeeding overnight and when out and about was so much easier than formula, I was gutted to finish so soon this time.

If breastfeeding is going well, I say keep going.

Original poster
Megs1993 · 02/06/2017 16:00

That's so true about it being easier, she's currently sleeping from about 10pm till 4/5/6am and it's so much easier to breast feed on a morning without the hassle of getting a bottle together!

I've never breastfed in public yet but I am comfortable feeding at friends and family houses so I think for now I'll aim for 6 months and take it from there

OP posts:
Crunchyside · 02/06/2017 16:00

Why stop, formula is so expensive and making up bottles is such a hassle. We went straight from breastfeeding to water or cows milk in a sippy cup.

Northgate · 02/06/2017 16:28

DS2 was breastfed until he self weaned at about 2yrs 9 months, and never went onto formula. We introduced cows milk as a drink (in addition to breastmilk) when he was a little over 1 yr.

DS3 is just 6 months old and exclusively breastfed. We're about to start weaning, but alongside breastfeeding - I've got no plans to replace the breastfeeding with formula.

Having bottle fed DS1, my feeling is that, provided breastfeeding is going well, breastfeeding is easier than bottle feeding, especially as the baby gets older.

I'm happy to breastfeed in public though. Never had any negative reactions about it, a lot of the time people don't even notice. If you're nervous about breastfeeding in public, it might be easier to start doing that at breastfeeding support groups or other baby groups.

weegiemum · 02/06/2017 16:35

I breastfed for 1) 12 months, 2) 15 months and 3) 2 years.

Never went over to formula - after 12 months its full fat cows milk and from 6 months thats ok in food.

So we never used formula - which was great as its really expensive!!

ChocolateHelps · 02/06/2017 16:41

If you can find a local breastfeeding support group you ask lots of questions and practice breastfeeding in public at the meeting. LLL has meetings all around the country. Have a look at LLL GB website to search for your nearest group

cheesychops · 02/06/2017 18:56

Yes!! I totally agree, look up a local LLL meeting. It's very empowering and will help keep up morale when feeding.
You're little one is getting the very best from you so you may as well keep it up while you're happy. Also the recommendation is until baby is at least 2 years old (although I realise this isn't common in our culture) so there's no rush to stop yet.
Good work mama!

Aliveinwanderland · 02/06/2017 19:03

Go to a breastfeeding group at your local Sure Start centre as a first stage to feeding in public. If you get comfortable feeding there then start going out and feeding in a cafe or somewhere you are familiar with.

There is honestly nothing to be nervous about, most people won't even notice you are doing it.

glitterglitters · 02/06/2017 19:05

Never bothered. Dd eased off when we weaned onto solids (blw) and then ended up weaning at 19 months.

Saved an absolute fortune. She loves cows milk now but she views it as a bit of a treat.

PurplePidjin · 02/06/2017 19:12

Neither of mine had formula, weaned off naturally - ds1 at 15m and ds2 at 20m.

Why buy a cow when you're getting the milk for free?

kel1234 · 02/06/2017 21:00

Can't help as I exclusively formula fed. But I hate it when people say formula feeding is such a faff. Once you get into a routine it's really easy to do. No faff at all.